La Liga fail to answer Barcelona’s call to protect Lamine Yamal

The pleas of those behind the scenes at La Liga giants Barcelona for the country’s officials to protect prodigious winger Lamine Yamal on Sunday continued to fall on deaf ears.

As much came en route to Barcelona making it a perfect six wins from six to open the Spanish top-flight campaign.

Hansi Flick’s troops marked their return to action a short time ago, making the trip to El Madrigal for what, on paper, looked a tricky meeting with Villarreal.

When all was said and done, though, the Blaugrana’s rampant domestic form only continued.

Owing to goals on the part of all of Robert Lewandowski (2), Pablo Torre and Raphinha (2), Barca romped to the right side of an eventual 5-1 result.

The aforementioned Lamine, meanwhile, did not manage to get himself on the scoresheet for the third game running, but did lay on nothing short of a sumptuous assist for his side’s 5th of the night.

From here, however, the 17-year-old was targeted in nothing short of ruthless fashion by Villarreal’s stars…

With the outcome of the clash long decided, and Lamine pulling out the tricks on the right flank, Sergi Cardona was responsible for an awful high challenge on the gifted winger.

The incident should in all reality have given rise to an immediate expulsion.

Bizarrely, however, after Cardona was shown a yellow card, the VAR team failed to inform referee Mateo Busquets that the tackle was a red-card worthy one.

From here, Lamine was then floored in aggressive fashion once more minutes later.

Reports earlier this month pointed towards the powers that be at the Camp Nou preparing to make direct contact with the Spanish football authorities, to call for added protection for their crown jewel moving forward.

Tonight, however, the opposite played out.

If players are allowed to continuously get away with challenges like that of Sergi Cardona on Lamine, the Spanish international will soon be left with a serious injury.

Conor Laird – GSFN